The #Apophis T-4 workshop wraps up with discussions about talking to the public about the flyby.
And cautions about the expected amount of disinformation.
"Apophis Communications Challenge" - https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/technical_program/?session_no=204
In the next session of the #Apophis T-4 workshop; Wing Ip relates that Huang Jiangchuan, lead engineer for Chang'e 2, has a mission concept for a cubesat to be placed where Apophis would run by it: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2023.pdf .
But, as for other proposals, funding is uncertain.
#Apophis T-4 continues today reviewing many other proposed space missions to the asteroid; in addition to the two spacecraft that are being built for that & the one that is already in the sky: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/technical_program/?session_no=201
Three spacecraft may be enough, but there has been a lot of work on this.
The DESTINY+ mission team propose to launch that spacecraft in 2028; fly by #Apophis before the asteroid makes its flyby of Earth; and then go on to the asteroid Phaethon.
Per Tomoko Arai: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2061.pdf
The last session at the #Apophis T-4 workshop today is reviews of the #OSIRISAPEx and #RAMSES spacecraft and what they are planned to do at the asteroid:
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2019.pdf
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2012.pdf
In planning optical observations of #Apophis between now and 2029; the possibility of Hubble no longer being available has to be considered.
All things are impermanent.
Cristina Thomas reviews optical observing plans for #Apophis in 2027 and 2028; to provide the best possible information prior to the flyby: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2066.pdf
#TeamRadar #Apophis planning page, with the hope that we can do all of this 4 years from now: https://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/apophis.2029.goldstone.planning.html
#TeamRadar presentations at #Apophis T-4:
Benner et al., "Goldstone Radar Observations of 99942 Apophis in 2029: Detailed Plans" - https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2058.pdf
Horiuchi et al., "Southern Hemisphere Asteroid Radar Program (SHARP) and the Apophis Encounter in 2029" - https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2037.pdf
From the posters at the #Apophis T-4 workshop:
Titus et al., "Potential Terahertz and Microwave Observations of (99942) Apophis from Ground-Based Telescopes" - https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2017.pdf .
Describing how to observe the asteroid with ALMA; with comparison to other ALMA asteroid projects.
Oscar Fuentes-Muñoz, "Close Encounter Statistical History of 99942 Apophis" - https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2057.pdf
2029 may be the closest approach #Apophis has ever made to Earth.
The #Apophis T-4 workshop begins with Rick Binzel reviewing the science case for studying the asteroid when it flies by in 2029; for everyone who has not spent two decades now thinking about it: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/pdf/2003.pdf
And, as always:
Apophis will miss the Earth.
It has also been nearly 20 years now since I got to help observe #Apophis with the Arecibo Observatory as a #TeamRadar summer student.
Woah.
Random person: "Why are governments not talking about Apophis?"
Me: "They are, though."
QT Michael Busch @michael-w-busch.bsky.social
2025 April 7
It also happens that there is a workshop this week about #Apophis: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/
With representatives from JAXA, NASA, ESA, and other agencies in attendance.
https://bsky.app/profile/michael-w-busch.bsky.social/post/3lmagdegkws2p
For people interested in asteroid science:
There are #HeraMission and #Apophis meetings this week, in Tokyo and online - https://www.hera-apophis-ramses-tokyo.org/en-us/meeting-schedule/
Next week. #Apophis
QT Michael Busch @michael_w_busch
2025 March 21
For those interested in asteroids flying by the Earth:
The #Apophis T-4 workshop will be happening in Tokyo and online in 3 weeks.
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/technical_program/
Today on the #arXiv :
Lasagni Manghi et al. 2025, "A Radio Science Experiment for the Ramses Mission to Apophis" - https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.19998
In good time for the #Apophis T-4 workshop.
For those interested in asteroids flying by the Earth:
The #Apophis T-4 workshop will be happening in Tokyo and online in 3 weeks.
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/technical_program/
For public education about #Apophis in particular; I recommend some of the materials from the Apophis T-4 workshop that is happening in three weeks: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2025/
